Motor racing-Fisichella demoted five places in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Aug 5 (Reuters) Renault's Giancarlo Fisichella was demoted five places on the Hungarian Grand Prix starting grid for unnecessarily impeding Spyker's Sakon Yamamoto in Saturday's qualifying.

The Italian drops from eighth to 13th, leaving the champions without a car in the top half of the field for today's race, while Japan's Yamamoto remains at the back.

Fisichella was the second driver to be penalised, with McLaren's double world champion Fernando Alonso stripped of pole position late yesterday for blocking his championship-leading team mate Lewis Hamilton in the pits.

Hamilton, two points clear of Alonso with seven races remaining, starts on pole instead.

As an additional punishment, leaders McLaren will not be allowed to score constructors' points although the team are appealing that decision.

McLaren are 27 points ahead of Ferrari with seven races remaining.

REUTERS SAM RN1503